Firemen To Gather This Weekend For Third Annual `Spring Break`

March 20, 1985|By Kelly Leon, Staff writer

Firefighters from throughout the state will trade in their hoses for bicycles, bands and beer Saturday as they gather in Pompano Beach for the third annual Firefighters Spring Break to benefit the University of Miami/ Jackson Burn Center.

In conjunction with the festivities, the 14th annual Broward County Firematics will be held 10 a.m. Sunday at 11800 NW 41st St., Coral Springs, across from the Westinghouse plant.

Members from at least three west Broward fire departments -- Coral Springs, Margate and Plantation -- will sponsor a team in the competition.

Food, drink and commemorative mugs will be on sale throughout the day.

At least 13 fire departments from Orlando to Miami will participate in Spring Break `85 activities.

The first event of the day, a 35-mile bike race along State Road A1A, is scheduled to kick off at 8 a.m. at the Pompano Beach city pier. Organizers are predicting between 300 and 350 riders.

Riders will be charged an $8 registration fee that enables them to collect sponsors (who will pay them for each mile they ride) and a ride packet containing a T-shirt, promotional items and free food and drink tickets.

The bike ride will be followed by a firematics demonstration by three Long Island, N.Y., fire departments on Ocean Boulevard in front of the Pompano pier.

The departments will be pitted against each other in responding to simulated emergencies.

As seen on ABC`s Wide World of Sports, the departments will be using special apparatus and equipment including their own specially built units used strictly for competition.

A 3 p.m. concert, expected to feature as yet unknown bands, on the beach near the pier, will conclude the day`s activites.

Throughout the day, an antique fire truck display will be held along Pompano Beach Boulevard between Northeast Second Street and Atlantic Boulevard.

The competition is sponsored by the Broward County Volunteer Firefighters Association in conjunction with WAXY radio station and Bud Light beer.